Tuesday, March 13, 2007

The future of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

On March 2, 2007, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, decided to change the name of 'Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall' to 'Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall' and to remove the enclosing walls to make the area around the memorial hall a more open public space.

To keep the integrity of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, which was built in 1980, Department of Culture, Taipei City Government, decided to evaluate if this area can be set as a national monument on March 5, 2007.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall collects stuffs used by Chiang Kai-Shek, who was a president here from 1950 to 1975. (The preserved remains of this previous president can still be visited in Tsu-Hu, Taoyuan.) Wei-Chen Tseng thought we should change the usage of the place:

這一個廣闊的園地理應歸還全民，而非存留為專制獨夫所服務。

This capacious place should be returned to the people instead of keeping for the dictator.

'The capital in a war' includes two aspects. First is implication or ideology of it to be the base to re-gain the control the country (mainland China) and authoritarian regime. Second is the pursuit of a modern city. These two aspects would not necessary remain peaceful with each other; there is hidden conflict between them. One obvious example is about where the current Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is. In July 1973, 'Taipei reading' (volume 67) had an article about the project, 'Ying-Pien New Community.' The government originally planned to raise 1500 billion NTD to build a 'modern business center' across 62 acre area in Hsin-Yi Road. There would be five 18- to 50-level business buildings, three 24- to 30-level international hotels for tourists and apartments, four department stores, conference hall, world trade center, culture centers, and entertainment facilities. There would be transportation systems between buildings, and moving tracks for pedestrians. In the cover and content of this journal, we can see the scenographs, and all of them are towering glass-covering buildings. This project is full of the imagination of 'modern and technology advance,' and it was set to start the development in June, 1974. However, Chiang Kai-Shek died in 1975, and the plan was suddenly changed to use the land for Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

In the wrestling between the Democratic Progressive Party, which leads Executive Yuan, and KaoMinTang, which leads Taipei City Government, bloggers in Taiwan have different opinions toward the actions taken by the two parties.No one goes to UK thought the point is not removing the enclosing walls:

Removing the enclosing walls is precedented. The enclosing walls besides the National Theater and National Concert Hall were removed in 2003. Architect Cheng-Chung Yao used the space to include the theater and the concert hall with bookstores, fountains, coffee shops, outdoor performance area, and visitor centers. The open space becomes a nice place for people to enjoy at their leisure time, to attend the performance, to buy books, and to drink a cup of coffee. Because of the example, the core question in 'removing or not removing' should never be focusing on the disparity of the two parties. The core question should be focusing on whether removing the walls strengthens the social network in our society or not.

Prometheus thought even though politicians think the memorial hall is a political symbol, 'to most people, it is simply a place for dating, jogging, and strolling.'

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a symbol of authoritarian regime. It mimics the Chinese palace-like building, from the surrounding (gardens and the square) to the space usage. The interesting thing is, the existence of the memorial hall, built in 1980, is itself very embarrassing. How many people would go there to view Chiang Kai-Shek's statue or browse the exhibition of the stuff Chiang Kai-Shek used before? The civilians visited the place for Cloud Gate Dance Theater, music, dance, lanterns, and concerts. It is also a place for democratic activities. It is a cynical memory that people gathered at the place which symbolizes authoritarian regime and asked authority to hand over the monopolized politics power.

Changing the name from Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall to Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall does not mean how we cherish what is so-called 'democracy'. Removing the enclosing walls may make the space more transparent, but it cannot promise a friendly place where people would love to immerse themselves in.

'Democracy' is in the present progressive tense, and there is no need to set a memorial hall to build other icons. I think the people who fought for democracy would not want to be memorized in this mausoleum-like place.

From a different perspective, George Lee concerned the tourism function of the place:

It is a major tourism spot in Taipei. In addition to visiting National Palace Museum and eat some delicious dishes, foreigners often ask about the transportation to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and the route to walk around. Even if Chiang Kai-Shek is guilty of the most heinous crime, keeping the memorial hall will not interfere historians' work in finding the truth. Moreover, it could be used as the evidence to prove his authoritarian regime. Changing name could result in one less tourism spot and affect the business around.

About the enclosing walls, bloggers also have different feelings.

Zonble pointed out that on Yuan-Hsiao Festival, lanterns are hang on the corridors. The current design keeps the lanterns from the rain, and the windows on the walls can deflect the light to the other side of the walls to form a 'light corridor.'

On the other hand, Life's basketball field said, 'when I ride my motorcycle there, I need to walk around the enclosing wall to find the entrance after I park. Every time I walk around the wall, the idea of climbing the wall is always in my mind. I really think the walls obstruct the sight and they are better to be removed.'

有時騎機車去中正廟，停完車還要繞一下圍牆，每次繞圍牆的時候我滿腦子都想著爬牆。圍牆的確阻隔了視覺，拆掉會更好，我是這麼相信的。

After Taipei City Government made the memorial hall as 'temporary national monument,' bloggers questioned the motivation for the action. The island left behind said:

When I saw the words 'temporary national monument,' the first thing that came to my mind was Lo-Sheng Sanatorium. Then I want to question the logic of setting national monument. The enclosing walls of Confucius Temple in Dalongdong, which were built in 1925, were removed, but the Cheng Kei-Shek Memorial Hall, built in 1980, becomes a national monument.

Trace said, 'to claim their right to govern the place, the current rulers need to affirm themselves by denying the previous ruler.

為了保住統治正當性，即使是延續前朝的政權，也要透過否定前人來肯定自己。

Hopefully the politicians will take an action that is not only good for their political party but also good for the people. After all, in our county, the civilians are supposed to be the one who has the power instead of an emperor, a dictator, or a political party winning the previous election.